In times of peace, he could accept that Breeders were a boon to their kind. Since their own females refused to give them sons, they needed the human women capable of bearing them heirs. But in times of war, the sweetly scented little cunts were nothing but distractions. One word of an unmated Breeder in his territory, and every one of his otherwise loyal warriors would be too busy proving himself the best choice to court her to protect his domain against their enemies.
Behind him, the girl pressed in against his back, and he cursed himself for not taking the time to source a car for the ride to the hospital where her sick brother waited for death.
As much as Kesh loathed her kind for how they fucked with otherwise dependable men’s minds, he wasn’t immune to her enchantments. The soft press of her body against his back had his cock at half-mast, his blood thrumming with eagerness to remove the clothes separating her soft skin from his.
How fucking undignified.
At least she wasn’t crying anymore. The sense of pure panic that had gripped him by the throat at the sound and smell of her tears was still fresh in his recollection, his muscles still wound too tight from the complete clarity that if she didn’t stop crying, he would die. Simply… cease to exist.
This insignificant human who’d been dumped on his doorstep—a female he had no desire to keep for any longer than he absolutely had to, let alone know—had almost dismantled him. In those moments her sobs had echoed through his throne room and straight into his gut, she’d held his entire, immortal existence by the throat.
And the second she’d realized as much? She’d used it to get her way.
Kesh bared his teeth, his cock softening partly in the presence of his anger. He knew what conniving bitches Breeders could be—though he was pretty sure they weren’t even cognizant about their influence most of the time.
Georgia, though. Georgia had seen the weakness she’d stirred, and she’d struck.
A bargain. It was not a surprise—desperate humans had called upon his kind since the dawn of time, pouring out their deepest desires as if they’d summoned nothing more than a benevolent djinn. He had granted several such wishes in his lifetime. And he had collected his payment once it was done.
Not one of the miserable cretins had found their bargain worth it, in the end.
He hadn’t made Georgia sign a contract—it would only complicate matters for whichever sorry fuck ended up claiming her, and he’d rather not have any evidence. He may not have forced her into a bargain, but he doubted his temperamental sister-in-law—his new queen—would approve, should she ever find out.
Besides, the only thing he needed from her was compliance for as long as she was under his care. This way, he wouldn’t need to pamper and cajole the little bitch. He’d simply demand she submit to getting ringed, branded, and given away to some sorry fuck who would only be too happy to be enslaved by her cunt for the rest of eternity.
With a little luck, she’d be out of his hair by the end of the week.
Sure, it wasn’t entirely in the spirit of the law that obligated lords to gentle new Breeders, but not losing his brother the entire East Coast ranked infinitely higher on his list of priorities than easing a Breeder into her new life. Especially a Breeder who was clearly not above purposely manipulating him with her cursed pheromones.
Georgia shifted behind him, her arms tightening around his waist for added security, and he swallowed a curse at the stutter in his chest as his dick surged with renewed want.
It was only pheromones. Chemicals and instincts. She was nothing but an irritating distraction from his duties, and soon, she’d be someone else’s problem.
Oh, how he couldn’t fucking wait.
The hospital was mostly quiet—as quiet as such a hub of human suffering ever got. A few scrubs-clad people gave him apprehensive looks as the Breeder led him through antiseptic-smelling hallways. As a lord, there was only so much Kesh could do to blend in with humans. He could take on the appearance of a mortal, sure, but his nearly eight-foot demonic frame couldn’t entirely fit into normal human proportions, and there were places he stuck out like a beacon. The quiet of a hospital at dawn was definitely one of them, and the caregivers’ natural urges to protect their patience flared at the sight of him.
However, Georgia’s presence seemed to stop any protests at his presence. Possibly because, while he clearly did not belong there, she looked exactly like someone who did: small, weak, disheveled, and distressed.
“When did you last sleep?” he asked, the lines on her pale face drawing his attention.
“I…” She frowned, glancing at him before quickly turning her attention straight ahead again. She did that a lot—tried not to look at him. “Yesterday. I think. Time’s… a little blurry. Anyway, it doesn’t matter. I’ll sleep once Larry’s better.”
He grunted. He shouldn’t let her sleep until she’d been securely processed, now that their bargain meant he didn’t have to spend time gentling her first.
But… She looked so damned weak. Like she was teetering on the edge, only pure desperation still keeping her upright.
Had she eaten? He’d spent enough time around humans to know they needed to feed frequently.
“It’s here.” Georgia interrupted his spiraling thoughts as she stopped in front of a closed door. She drew in a slow breath before she pushed the door open.
The room housed three sleeping humans—one female and two males, one of whom was occupying the hospital bed. The other man and woman sat on each their side of the bed, sound asleep in uncomfortable-looking chairs. The brimstone touch of demonic magic hovered over the cloying scent of lingering death.
“The demon you were with was here?” he asked, keeping his voice low. It wasn’t particularly strong magic—unsurprisingly. The goon who’d brought her to him wouldn’t have had the power to do anything for a sick human. He was surprised he’d even tried.
“He said he wasn’t strong enough.” Her gaze didn’t leave the male on the bed. “Please tell me you are. If he dies, I… Please.”
Kesh shuddered at the whispered plea. It slid like a silky caress up his spine and into his chest, squeezing his lungs with the urge to soothe. To take away the pain so clear in her hoarse voice.
